About (Biography)

Mark R. Schuster is the Founder and CEO of The Schuster Group, a real estate investment, development and merchant banking firm, headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Mark is a recognized expert and leader in the green building and real estate industries and has been a featured speaker at numerous regional and national events. He is the author of the nationally-acclaimed business memoir, Lofty Pursuits—Repairing the WorldOneBuilding at a Time; the recipient of the 2011 Eric Hoffer Book Award and the 2011 Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Award.

Mark began his real estate career when he was only 18 and he formed The Schuster Group at the age of 22. Over the next two decades, Mark grew the one man shop into a multi-faceted group of companies and one of the most successful private equity investment and development firms in the Pacific Northwest.

A passionate entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mark has created a formula for success that connects successful business practices with community enhancement. This approach has served as the catalyst for several landmark projects over the past twenty years, establishing an exceptional track record within the real estate and private equity industries along the way. Under Mark’s leadership, The Schuster Group has become one of the most respected pioneers of sustainable development in the nation.

Mark’s visionary leadership led to the creation of Mosler Lofts, the first LEED® Silver (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified high-rise condominium building in Seattle, Washington. Mosler Lofts ultimately became the most nationally acclaimed “green” residential high-rise building of 2008. Noted for its exceptional design, Mosler Lofts received over 60 forms of awards, recognition and accolades, including top awards from the National Association of Home Builders and sweeping the Gold Nugget awards at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference.

Mark’s personal commitment to community enhancement extends beyond environmental practices. He serves on several non-profit Boards including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and is a founding member of the Seattle Advisory Council for UNICEF. He also served on the Board of MAZON-A Jewish Response to Hunger for over nine years. Mark has been recognized on numerous occasions by the community for his business acumen and civic involvement, and is the recipient of several regional and national awards.